[Verse 1]
As I walked out in the streets of Laredo
As I walked out in Laredo one day
I spied a young cowboy dressed up in white linen
Dressed in white linen and cold as the clay

[Verse 2]
His eyes were fast glazing and death was approaching
His white lips were curled and tortured with pain
He spoke in a whisper of a scene far behind him
Of his home in Montana he would never see again

[Chorus]
Beat the drum slowly, play the fife lowly
Play the dead march as you carry me along
Take me to the green valley, lay the sod o'er me
For I'm a young cowboy, I know I've done wrong

[Verse 3]
Go bring me a cup, a cup of cold water
To cool my parched lips, the cowboy then said
Before I returned his soul had departed
And gone to the round-up, the cowboy was dead

[Instrumental Break]

[Outro]
Beat the drum slowly, play the fife lowly
Play the dead march as